The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE Premiership teams, Manica Diamonds and Tenax FC will be fighting for dear life when they partake in the Chibuku Super Cup final round of group matches tomorrow (Saturday).
The Gem Boys, as Manica Diamonds are fondly referred to by their growing fan base in Manicaland will be facing Black Rhinos at Baobab Stadium in Mhondoro, at the same time correctional services outfit, Tenax FC will be entertaining Cranborne Bullets at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare.
The four clubs make up Group Three of the Chibuku Super Cup competition.
With Harare Premiership new comers, Cranborne Bullets already through to the quarter finals of the Chibuku Super Cup competition, the race for the remaining ticket to progress in Group Three now remains between Rhinos, Manica Diamonds and Tenax FC.
After amassing nine points, Cranborne Bullets can afford to lose their final encounter and still remain among the top two teams to progress from Group Three.
The Nisbert ‘Yabo’ Saruchera-coached Cranborne Bullets are the current Chibuku Super Cup Group Three log leaders with nine points, while second placed Black Rhinos have seven points with only one round of group stage matches remaining. Mutare duo of Manica Diamonds and Tenax FC are tied on five points.
Thus, either Manica Diamonds or Tenax FC, or both Mutare Premiership clubs will wave goodbye to the 2021 edition of the tournament tomorrow.
Both Gem Boys coach, Johanisi ‘Dutch Mentor’ Nhumwa, and his Tenax FC counterpart, Shadreck ‘Father’ Mugurasave understand that stakes are high going into tomorrow’s final group stage encounters.
Both coaches are confident of a favourable outcome at the end of the group stage matches.
Nhumwa said: “It is not going to be an easy match given what is at stake. Black Rhinos are also fighting to remain in the competition, and so are we. That makes the whole thing more complicated, but personally I have no doubt that we will make it to the next stage of this competition. We have been making many mistakes along the way, and my hope is that we will be able to put our act together, and get things right in the last group stage match.
“We have not played badly at all since the tournament resumed. If you look at how we have been creating chances and failing to bury our opponents in time, you will realise that on a good day we can get the results we want.
“I am really confident that we will get things right. We managed to ensure that we make the most of the international break. Now that the day has come, we hope to finish off from where we left.”
Mugurasave said: “So far I am happy with the way my team has performed. The Covid-19 break has somehow worked to our advantage as debutants in the league, given that when action resumed, we were all more like new teams. I am happy that we are now playing as a unit. We are taking the game to our opponents, and it is unfortunate that at times we are failing to hold on to the lead. We are scoring goals, and we only need to strengthen our ability to hold on to the lead. If we are to achieve our targets, we do not need to concede the silly goals we have been conceding.
“I have no doubt that we will be able to do just that when we face Cranborne Bullets in the final group stage matches. We should be able to find ourselves in the next stage of the competition no matter what. We have gained the confidence we needed from the matches we have played so far.” Mugurasave is not reading too much into the aspect that Cranborne Bullets have already secured a ticket to the next stage of the competition.
“Yes, Cranborne Bullets have already booked a berth in the next stage of the competition, but that does not mean the match will be a walk over for us. They also want to win and ensure that they lead the group with a wider margin. We just have to play for ourselves and win it for ourselves,” said Mugurasave.
